Split's current mayor Zeljko Kerum of the Croatian Civic Party (HGS), who did not make it to the runoff after finishing third in Sunday's local elections, said he was disappointed with his performance at the elections.
Ivo Baldasar of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Vjekoslav Ivanisevic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) emerged as top two vote-getters who will face off in the runoff on 2 June, according to exit polls.
Asked whether this result meant the end of his political career, Kerum, a businessman-turned-politician, responded that this was only a match he hadn't won and "only the beginning" of his political career.
"If I wasn't voted mayor again, it doesn't mean that I will stop my engagement in politics," he said. He added that he would not recommend to his voters for whom they should cast their votes in the runoff.
Kerum said he was satisfied with the result of his HGS party as it was likely to win five seats in the Split City Council.
